Melody Green, Pilobolus Teaching Artist, with elementary school students at the Booth Free School in CT.
Pilobolus recently collaborated with Darlene Kascak, a Schaghticoke tribal storyteller, to bring a residency to Booth Free School in Roxbury, CT, and Burnham School in Bridgewater, CT. This residency was designed to share with the students the native perspective of reciprocity and interconnectedness by learning what animals have to teach us. Led by Pilobolus Teaching Artists Melody Green and Quincy Ellis, alongside our Education Director Emily Kent, this series of four workshops taught students to embody the characteristics of animals through dance.
The residency centered around Darlene’s original story, The Council of the Animals, a tale she first created in 2020 for Pilobolus’s outdoor car safari performance. The story, rich in lessons from the animal world, was used as a foundation for students to explore how animals can teach humans important values and insights.
Over the course of the workshops, students from kindergarten through fifth grade were given the opportunity to create an original dance. Each grade was assigned 2–3 animals, and with the guidance of our Teaching Artists, they learned how to embody these animals through movement and character. The result was a 3-4 minute section, showcasing the animals’ unique traits and the lessons they offer us.
The residency culminated in a vibrant performance where every student had the chance to be both a performer and an audience member. The energy in the room was electric as the students took to the stage, sharing their dances with pride. To add to the excitement, Pilobolus dancers performed an opening piece that aligned with the beginning of Darlene’s story, set to an adapted sound score by Matt Kent, based on David Van Tieghem’s original composition.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Town of Washington for their financial support, which made this enriching program possible. This collaboration was a beautiful fusion of tradition, education, and creativity, leaving both the students and teaching artists inspired. It demonstrated how storytelling, movement, and cultural wisdom can come together to create a memorable experience that resonates with all ages. We also could not have done this without the partnership of Darlene Kascak, who shared her wisdom and cultural perspective with the students.
We are incredibly proud of the work these students accomplished and grateful for the opportunity to share these important stories with them.